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Vander Sloot Named to Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports

Cindy Vander SlootCindy Vander Sloot has been on a quest to improve health and wellness on the Ferris State University campus, and now she has the ear of Gov. Rick Snyder, too.

Vander Sloot, assistant director of University Recreation, has been appointed to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. She will be joined by three other members recently appointed by Snyder to the 15-member council, established in 1992 to urge an increase in physical activity and improve the health of Michiganders.

“I am very excited, because I love being part of a group that develops and promotes health- and wellness-related activities,” said Vander Sloot, who graduated from Ferris in 2004, with a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction, and in 2002, with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. “I’m extremely honored.”

Since Vander Sloot joined URec in 2009, she has been part of a staff committed to improving the health and wellness of Ferris students, staff and faculty through use of the Student Recreation Center, which offers a pool, hot tub, elevated track, weight room, fitness center, aerobics rooms, a climbing wall, and basketball and volleyball courts. She is involved with all aspects of fitness, recreation and wellness activities.

Vander Sloot sees her appointment to the council as beneficial to her wellness-programming role at Ferris.

“My dream has always been to get more people involved in wellness-related activities,” she said.

Vander Sloot, who is certified as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, also is involved with the university’s wellness program and often teaches academic classes associated with Ferris’ Recreation, Leisure Services and Wellness program.

Appointees will serve two-year terms that expire April 30, 2014, and their appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

“Good general health and fitness is an integral part of our reinvention of Michigan,” Snyder said in announcing the appointments this week. “I look forward to the work of these individuals to improve quality of life for all citizens.”
 

Also appointed were:

  • Paul Barbeau of Midland, president and general manager of the Great Lakes Loons baseball club and ESPN 100.9.
  • Anuja Rajendra of Ann Arbor, founder and CEO of Bollyfit, which is focused on improving physical and mental fitness through Bollywood-inspired dance classes.
  • Ronald Winter of Kalamazoo, an NFL official and former director of campus recreational activities at Western Michigan University.
     

Reappointed to the council were:

  • Lila Lazarus of Commerce Township, founder and CEO of media firm Lila Productions LLC.
  • Thomas Minter of Okemos, who previously served as executive director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association for 17 years.
  • James Pivarnik of East Lansing, a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology at Michigan State University.
  • Terence Thomas of Grosse Point, co-founder of Thomas Group Consulting Inc.